Clin Exp Vaccine Res.  2018 Jul;7(2):87-92. 10.7774/cevr.2018.7.2.87.

Strategies to maintain Korea's animal rabies non-occurrence status

• Yang DK
• Kim HH
• Cho IS

• KMID: 2418086
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7774/cevr.2018.7.2.87

Abstract

Endemic animal rabies causes >99% of all human rabies cases; elimination of animal rabies reduces the rate of human infections. The most recent animal rabies cases in the Gangwon and Gyeonggi provinces of Korea occurred in November 2012 and February 2013, respectively. Here we explore ways to ensure that Korea remains animal rabies non-occurrence. The government must prevent rabies recurrence by vaccinating dogs, distributing bait vaccine in regions with a high rabies risk, performing laboratory-based surveillance, preventing the flow of rabies-suspect animals from neighboring countries, and enhancing border quarantine. As has already been shown in several developed countries, careful and ongoing rabies control will allow Korea to remain animal rabies-free.

Keyword

Rabies; Elimination; Oral rabies vaccination

MeSH Terms

Animals*
Developed Countries
Dogs
Gangwon-do
Gyeonggi-do
Humans
Korea
Quarantine
Rabies*
Recurrence